Flexible ladder



(N o Model.) A

v V. CRAY/ENS.

FLEXIBLE LADDER. No. 279,542. Patented June 19,1883.

///24=554=5. mum 4W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT CRAVENS, OF MADISON, INDIANA.

FLEXIBLE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 279,542, dated June 19, 1883.

Application filed February 27,1883. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern Be it known that I, VINcENT GRAvENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Jefferson and State of 5 Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible Ladders, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

The invention relates to an improvement in flexible ladders; and it consists of a ladder each step or round of which is secured to or forms a part of a detachable link, whereby a ladder of any desired length may be quickly formed, which will afford perfect foothold and may be quickly and easily adjusted, substalr tially as will be hereinafter more fullyset forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure represents a perspective view of a ladder such as I will describe.

A represents a rectangular link of metal, formed with one end turned back upon itself to form hooks to a upon each side, and then turned outward to throw the end bar, co, of the link away from the main body a short distance. As many of these linksmay be joined together as may be desired by engaging the hooks upon one section with the plain end of another.

A ladder is thus formed which is light and strong, maybe readily folded up, and the links I of which, while securely held in proper posiincrease or diminish the length of the ladder. Such a ladder is especially valuable as a fireescape, and when hanging against the house the ends a, which form rounds or steps, will be held away from the wall to give a perfect foothold with which no swaying of the ladder will interfere.

It is obvious that the ladder is capable of being used either end up, and with either side toward the wall with equal effect.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A section for flexible ladders, consisting of a rectangular link of metal having one end bent back upon itself and then bent outward away from the main portion of the link, substantially as described and shown.

. 2. A flexible ladder composed of detachable sections or links A, each formed of a single piece of metal bent to form a rectangular link having the hooks a, and the outwardly-bent bar a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VINCENT CRAVENS.

Witnesses:

MATTHEW KENNEDY, SIMEoN E. LELAND.

tion, may be quickly attached and detached to 

